LONDON, March 14, 2026 — The National Army Museum in London will become the new home for Lord Ashcroft’s collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses.
This is the world’s largest such collection. Assembled by Lord Ashcroft over four decades, it consists of almost 250 Victoria Crosses and a smaller quantity of George Crosses. It was formerly displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London, which shuttered the Lord Ashcroft Gallery last September following a 15-year tenure.
Expressing his happiness today, Lord Ashcroft stated: “I am delighted to have secured such an excellent venue for this one-of-a-kind collection of gallantry medals. It gives me great pleasure that these VCs and GCs, which cover numerous significant wars and conflicts from the last 200 years, will be accessible to the public again.
“The National Army Museum has the same enthusiasm I do for both the medals and for sharing the amazing tales of bravery associated with them. I anticipate a lasting and successful collaboration with the Museum for the foreseeable future.”
Justin Maciejewski, Director of the National Army Museum, commented: “It is a privilege to be given responsibility for these VCs and GCs from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. We thank Lord Ashcroft for his ongoing generosity and dedication to promoting these accounts of exceptional courage.
“The National Army Museum communicates the history and legacy of our soldiers worldwide and throughout the ages. These medals, and the singular acts of immense bravery they signify, constitute a compelling element of the Army’s broader story.”
Chris Finney, a National Army Museum Trustee and Chair of the VC and GC Association, said: “This uncommon and extensive collection represents centuries of military service, sacrifice, and remarkable bravery throughout the Armed Forces.
“We are honored to have the chance to present these medals—and the motivating individual stories they embody—to museum visitors, as well as online for the general public, ensuring they can inspire future generations of all ages.”
Lord Ashcroft started acquiring VCs in 1986 by buying a single medal group at an auction. The Victoria Cross, established by Queen Victoria in 1856, is the highest British and Commonwealth award for bravery in face of the enemy. The George Cross, founded by George VI in 1940, is the highest British and Commonwealth decoration for gallantry not in the face of the enemy and has also been given to civilians for acts of valour.
These medals form a segment of the larger Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection, which also contains Special Forces honours and awards for valour in aerial and naval combat. Lord Ashcroft’s enduring interest in gallantry medals was first sparked by his late father, Eric, who participated in the D-Day Landings on June 6, 1944, as a young officer.
A highlight of the VC collection is one of only three VC and Bar awards—equal to two Victoria Crosses—bestowed in the last 170 years. This set was awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse VC & Bar, MC, a medical officer who served and died in the First World War.
After the prior gallery closed, Lord Ashcroft provided digital access to the collection via his website. The new collaboration with the National Army Museum will enable in-person viewing, allowing the public to be moved by the exceptional stories the medals symbolize.
The full VC and GC collection will be exhibited at the National Army Museum within two years. Meanwhile, starting in July, a selection of Lord Ashcroft’s medals will be shown at the museum, featuring pop-up displays.
As the custodian of the Army’s history, the National Army Museum will integrate items from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection with its own holdings of artefacts, archives, and art, narrating the stories of soldiers and their service—including the Victoria Cross’s beginnings in the Crimean War.
The VCs and GCs will be on long-term loan to the National Army Museum. In addition to the display, the Museum is developing a schedule of exhibitions, educational materials, talks, tours, and digital content that delves into the human stories of courage associated with the decorations.
Additional information regarding the new partnership between Lord Ashcroft and the National Army Museum about exhibiting his VC and GC collection will be announced in the months ahead.
NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit:
- LordAshcroft.com
- LordAshcroftMedalCollection.com
- Follow Lord Ashcroft on X and Facebook @LordAshcroft
Join in the conversation on:
- X: @NAM_London
- Facebook: facebook.com/NationalArmyMuseum
- Instagram: @nam_london
More information on the Museum:
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday
10:00 – 17:00
Address:
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HT
Website:
nam.ac.uk
National Army Museum
The National Army Museum communicates the history and legacy of our soldiers and their service in the Army, around the world and through history. Using our collections, we investigate the Army’s history from its beginnings to today. Our goal is to involve and motivate everyone with the stories of our soldiers and how their service influences our world, past, present, and future.
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SOURCE Lord Ashcroft